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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8151
The deaths of two workers resulted today in proposed
penalties of $463,024 against Claremont Steel Corp., Claremont, N.H., for
alleged violations of safety requirements, the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) announced.
"This double tragedy might have been averted if Claremont
had observed OSHA standards," said OSHA Administrator Charles N. Jeffress.
"Strong penalties are warranted in cases such as this."
OSHA issued citations for 10 alleged willful violations
with a total penalty of $416,500 and 38 alleged serious violations with a total
penalty of $46,524. There were 32 alleged other-than-serious violations with no
penalty.
Claremont is a bridge steel fabrication facility with
about 55 employees. The company was previously known as East Coast Steel and,
before that, as East Coast Steel Erectors, Inc.
On Dec. 16, 1997, two employees of the company were
attempting to bend and shape two 62-foot long steel beams using a hydraulic
jack placed between the centers of the beams. The employees were in the process
of heating strategic points on the beams when the jack apparently slipped out
and the two beams came crashing together, killing the workers instantly.
OSHA said that examination of the jack indicated it had
been previously damaged during use so that it did not properly engage the load.
Earlier, there was another incident where an employee was
seriously injured by a jack slipping. After the fatalities, OSHA inspectors
notified Claremont that any damaged jacks still in service must be removed from
service immediately. On Dec. 29, almost two weeks after the accident, an OSHA
inspector found another damaged hydraulic jack in use, of the same make and
model as the one involved in the deaths.
The alleged willful violations that relate directly to the
fatal accident have to do with the employer's failure to properly inspect
hydraulic jacks; allowing employees to use damaged hydraulic jacks; failure to
equip hydraulic jacks with end caps; and failure to ensure that steel beam
loads were properly cribbed, blocked or otherwise secured against displacement.
Claremont has 15 working days to contest the citations and
proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review
Commission.
# # #
(Editor's Note: See Attached Fact Sheet for Summary of
Citations and Proposed Penalties)
- Hydraulic jacks not equipped with caps and loads not cribbed, blocked
or otherwise secured against displacement. (Grouped) $49,000
- Hydraulic jacks not inspected as required and damaged hydraulic jacks
not tagged or repaired prior to use. (Grouped) $49,000
- Complete periodic inspections of overhead cranes had not been
performed, and unsafe conditions were not corrected before placing cranes back
in service after inspections (Grouped) $49,000
- Semi-gantry crane rails not adequately spliced and did not have
smooth joints and were not properly secured to foundations. (Grouped)
$38,500
- Custom-made rigging devices not marked with rated capacities nor
proof tested. $38,500
- Debris, including flammable/combustible residues from spraying
operations, were allowed to accumulate; automatic sprinkler system not properly
maintained and tested; and welding and cutting was in progress while sprinkler
system was not fully operation. (Grouped) $38,500
- Landing platforms or cages/wells not provided on fixed ladders of
more than 20 feet. $38,500
- Personal protective equipment not used when necessary for fall
protection. $38,500
- Overhead cab-operated cranes were not equipped with warning signal.
$38,500
- Crane load capacity was exceeded when moving plate. $38,500
(Willful violations are those committed with an intentional
disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational
Safety and Health Act and regulations. The penalties for this employer were
reduced 30 percent because of the small size of the firm.)
- Citations for 38 violations of various standards dealing with crane
safety; walking/working surfaces; ladders; exits; storage of
flammable/combustible fluids; personal protective equipment; slings;
lockout/tagout; forklifts; machine guarding; bulk oxygen storage; and
electrical hazards. Penalties ranged from $637 to $3,500 per citation.
(A serious violation is defined as one in which there is a
substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and
the employer knew or should have known of the hazard. The penalties for the
citations involving serious violations for this employer were reduced 50
percent because of the firm's size and past history.)
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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